Methods of assembling a wick and bearing

Abstract

In a method of assembling a wick and bearing, the wick is passed into a bore of the bearing through one end thereof, and bridge means on the bearing spanning the bore thereof is captured between bifurcated sections of the wick. In another method of assembling a wick and bearing, wiping sections of the wick are respectively disposed in slots in the bearing intersecting with a bore thereof and a bridge section on the wick is twistably displaced between the wiping sections thereof so as to span across a peripheral portion of the bearing.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A method of assembling a unitary lubricant impregnable wick and a bearing, the bearing including a body having a pair of opposite ends with a peripheral portion interposed therebetween, a bore extending generally axially through the body intersecting with the opposite ends thereof, slot means extending generally radially through the body intersecting with the opposite ends and the bore along the entire axial length thereof, and a bridge means on the body between the opposite ends and spaced radially outwardly of the bore for spanning the slot means, the wick including a generally axially extending wiping section having a pair of opposite end portions thereon, a pair of spreadable fingers disposed generally in side-by-side relation and extending generally perpendicular to the wiping section between the opposite end portions, an opening through the wick, and a passage between the fingers and intersecting with the opening, the method comprising the steps of: spreading apart the fingers of the wick;   opening the passage between the fingers upon the spreading apart thereof;   aligning the opened passage generally with the slot means adjacent one of the opposite ends of the bearing body;   moving the opened passage into the slot means toward the bridge means from the one opposite end of the bearing body;   entering one of the fingers and one of the opposite end portions of the wiping section of the wick through the one opposite end of the bearing body into the bore thereof and passing the other of the fingers adjacent the peripheral surface of the bearing body and at least in part over the bridge means generally during the moving step;   guiding the one finger from the bore into the slot means between the other end of the bearing body and the bridge means;   turning the wick at least in part in the slot means generally about the bridge means to dispose the opening in the wick at least in part adjacent the bridge means and to locate the wiping section in the slot means with the opposite end portions of the wiping sections extending through the slot means axially beyond the opposite ends of the bearing body and returning the fingers at least in part toward the side-by-side relation thereof beyond the peripheral surface of the bearing body so as to generally close the passage between the fingers and capture within the opening in releasable engagement therewith at least a part of the bridge means.   
     
     
       2. A method of assembling a unitary lubricant impregnable wick with a bearing, the bearing including a body having a sidewall defining a bore extending generally axially through the bearing body, slot means through the sidewall for intersecting with the bore along the axial extent thereof, and bridge means on the sidewall for spanning the slot means, the wick including a wiping section, and a pair of bifurcated sections disposed in angular and spaced relation with respect to the wiping section, the method comprising the steps of: passing the wick toward the bridging means through the slot means generally adjacent one end of the bore and extending a part of the wiping section and one of the bifurcated sections into the bore; and   moving the one bifurcated section generally about the bridging means through the slot means generally adjacent the other end of the bore and capturing the bridge means in releasable engagement between the bifurcated sections with the bifurcated sections being located at least in part beyond the sidewall of the bearing body generally adjacent each other and with the wiping section being positioned at least in part within the slot means adjacent the bore.   
     
     
       3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the passing and extending step includes locating the other of the bifurcated sections at least adjacent the bridge means and positioning another part of the wiping section at least in part within the slot means generally adjacent the one end of the bore. 
     
     
       4. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the bifurcated sections define an opening therebetween through the wick and wherein the moving and capturing step includes receiving the bridge means in the releasable engagement between the bifurcated sections within the opening. 
     
     
       5. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the wiping section has a pair of opposite end portions and wherein the moving and capturing step includes extending the at least one of the opposite end portions through the slot means generally axially beyond one of the one end and the other end of the bore. 
     
     
       6. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the passing and extending step includes positioning another part of the wiping section and the other of the bifurcated sections beyond the sidewall of the bearing body generally when the wick is passed toward the bridge means through the slot means adjacent the one end of the bore. 
     
     
       7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the moving and capturing step includes inserting the first named and another wiping section parts into the slot means in directions from within the bore and beyond the sidewall, respectively, and extending the other bifurcated section at least adjacent the bridge means at least in part through the slot means and beyond the sidewall. 
     
     
       8. A method of assembling a lubricant impregnable wick with a bearing, the bearing including a body having a sidewall defining a bore extending generally axially through the bearing body, slot means through the sidewall for intersecting with the bore along the axial extent thereof, and bridge means on the sidewall for spanning the slot means, the wick including a wiping section, and a pair of bifurcated sections disposed in angular and spaced relation with respect to the wiping section, the method comprising the steps of: passing the wick at least in part into the bore through an end thereof;   aligning the bifurcated sections generally on opposite sides of the bridging means;   moving at least a part of the bifurcated sections through the slot means so as to extend beyond the sidewall of the bearing body and capturing the bridge means in releasable engagement between the bifurcated sections.   
     
     
       9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the moving and capturing step includes displacing at least one of the bifurcated sections so as to dispose the bridge means between the bifurcated sections. 
     
     
       10. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the moving and capturing step further includes engaging the bridge means and at least the at least one bifurcated section to effect the displacement thereof. 
     
     
       11. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the bifurcated sections define at least in part an opening therebetween through the wick and wherein the moving and capturing step includes positioning the bridge means at least in part within the opening in the releasable engagement with the bifurcated sections. 
     
     
       12. A method of assembling a unitary lubricant impregnable wick and a bearing, the bearing including a body having a pair of opposite ends with a peripheral portion interposed therebetween, a bore extending generally axially through the bearing body generally in radially spaced apart relation with the peripheral portion and intersecting with the opposite ends of the bearing body, respectively, a pair of generally axially extending slots in the bearing body and generally radially spaced apart from each other about the bore, the slots having a pair of opposed sidewalls intersecting with the peripheral portion, the bore and the opposite ends of the bearing body and also having a pair of end walls interposed between the opposed sidewall pairs and spaced from the opposite ends of the bearing body, respectively, the wick including another body having a pair of generally axially aligned and spaced apart wiping sections with a bridge section integrally connected across the wiping sections, an opening through the wick body between the wiping sections and adjacent the bridge section and defining a pair of opposed end portions on the wiping sections, respectively, a pair of opposite end portions on the wiping sections, respectively, and a pair of wiping surfaces on the wiping sections interposed between the opposed end portion pair and the opposite end portion pair thereof, respectively, the method comprising the steps of: moving the wick generally toward at least a part of the peripheral portion of the bearing body;   aligning one of the wiping sections on the wick body generally with one of the slots in the bearing body;   leading one of the opposed end portions on the one wiping section past one of the opposite ends on the bearing body between one of the opposed sidewall pair of the one slot with the one opposed end portion arranged generally in facing relation with one of the opposite end walls between the one sidewall pair of the one slot in the bearing body;   positioning at least a part of the one wiping section on the wick body in engagement with the one opposite sidewall pair of the one slot in the bearing body with one of the wiping surfaces on the one wiping section arranged at least adjacent the bore of the bearing body and placing the one opposed end portion on the one wiping section at least in part generally in abutment with the one opposite end wall of the one slot in the bearing body;   twisting the bridge section of the wick body at least in part with respect to the one wiping section thereof in the one slot of the bearing body and the other of the wiping section of the wick body at least in part with respect to the bridge section thereof and spreading apart the opposed end portions on the wiping sections of the wick body;   aligning the other wiping section on the wick body generally with the other of the slots in the bearing body;   inserting adjacent parts of the other of the opposed end portions and the other of the wiping surfaces on the other wiping section generally in a direction from the peripheral portion of the bearing body into the other slot between the other of the opposed sidewall pair thereof with the part of the other opposed end portion on the wick body arranged generally in facing relation with the other of the opposite sidewalls between the other sidewall pair of the other slot in the bearing body; and   pushing the other wiping section on the wick body farther into the other slot in the bearing body and abutting the other opposed end portions on the other wiping section with the other opposite end wall of the other slot in the bearing body.   
     
     
       13. A method of assembling a unitary lubricant impregnable wick and a bearing, the bearing including a body having a pair of opposite ends with a peripheral portion interposed therebetween, a bore in the bearing body spaced from the peripheral portion and intersecting with the opposite ends, respectively, a pair of slots radially spaced apart from each other generally about the bore and extending through the bearing body between the peripheral portion, the bore and the opposite ends thereof, respectively, the wick including a generally flat body formed of a generally resiliently displaceable material and having a pair of spaced apart wiping sections with a bridge section integrally interconnected across the wiping sections, the method comprising the steps of: containing one of the wiping sections of the wick body within one of the slots in the bearing body;   twisting the bridge section and the other of the wiping sections of the wick body generally about the one wiping section thereof contained in the one slot of the bearing body; and   entering the other of the wiping sections of the wick body into the other of the slots in the bearing body with the twisted bridge section of the wick body spanning across the peripheral portion of the bearing body between the slots thereof.   
     
     
       14. A method of assembling a unitary lubricant impregnable wick and a bearing, the bearing including a body having a pair of opposite end portions with a generally radially spaced peripheral portion and a journaling surface interposed therebetween, respectively, and a pair of slots radially spaced apart generally about the journaling surface and extending through the bearing body between the peripheral portion, the journaling surface and the opposite ends thereof, respectively, the wick including a body having a pair of wiping sections with a bridge section spanning thereacross, the method compising disposing the wiping sections of the wick body in the slots of the bearing body, respectively, with the bridge section twistably displaced between the wiping sections and spanning therebetween across a part of the peripheral portion of the bearing body and imparting forces occasioned by the twisting displacement of the bridge sections onto the wiping sections urging at least a part thereof into gripping engagement with a confronting part of the slots so as to at least oppose displacement of the wiping sections from the slots, respectively.